Moo Duk Kwan was the largest of the schools developed after the Japanese left Korea. Hwang Kee was the founder and a diligent worker toward the re-establishment of Korea's martial art. Moo Duk Kwan means the institute of martial virtue. It was founded in Seoul, Korea by Hwang Kee on November 6, 1945 following World War II (Korea was Liberated from Japan on August 15, 1945).

At the present time in Korea alone, the Moo Duk Kwan has about 500,000 members actively training in Tae Kwon Do. Moo Duk Kwan has branch schools in more than 40 countries and there are over 300,000 members in the U.S.A.

ASPECTS OF MOO DUK KWAN

MOO DUK KWAN PRINCIPLES:1. Responsibility2. Sincerity3. Justice

10 CREEDS OF MOO DUK KWAN:1. Be loyal to your country.2. Be obedient to your parents.3. Be loveable between husband and wife.4. Be cooperative between brothers.5. Be respectful to your elders.6. Be faithful between teacher and student.7. Be faithful between friends.8. Be just in killing.9. Never retreat in battle.10. Accompany your decisions with action and always finish what you start.

10-Points of Emphasis on Physical Development:1. Vocal exhalation, for thoractic strength (Ki-yup).2. Focus of sight.3.Continuous balance during movements.4.Fexibility of the body.5. Correct muscle tone for maximum power.6. High and low speed techniques.7. Exactness of techniques.8. Adjustment for proper distance.9. Proper breathing for endurance.10. Conditioning of the hands and feet.

Matters that Demand Special Attention While Training:1. Purpose of training should be the enhancement of mental and physical self.2. Sincerity is necessary.3. Effort is necessary.4. Constant schedule during practice.5. Do your best when training.6.Train in the basic spirit of Moo Duk Kwan.7. Regularly spaced practice sessions.8. Obey without objection the word of instructors or seniors.9. Don't be overly ambitious.10. Pay attention to every aspect of your training.11. Pay attention to the order of training.12. Get instruction step by step with new forms and techniques.13. Try to conquer when you feel idleness.14. Cleanliness is desired after practice is finished.

Guidance Policy of The Moo Duk Kwan:1. Protect the art of tae kwon do with justice.2. Cultivate character and personality through training for discipline.3. Unity through sincerity and courtesy.

Meaning of International Tae Kwon Do Forms:

Basic One: Basic movements.
Chon-Ji: "Chon" means the heaven or upper world and "Ji" means the earth. In the Far East this represents the idea of creation or the beginning of history. This is appropriate for the student just beginning his/her life in Tae Kwon Do. There are 19 movements, and the diagram is two equal lines crossed in the center. There are two similar sets of movements to represent heaven and earth.

Dan-Gun: This form is named after the legendary founder of Korea, Tan' gun. A god, Hwanung, was visiting earth when he came upon a bear who wished to be human. He turned her into a woman and married her. They had a child named Tan' gun. Tan' gun was the legendary founder of Korea in 2333 B.C. There are 21 movements in this form, and the diagram pattern is an "I".

Do- San: Do- San (or To-san) is the penname of the famous patriot and educator, Ahn Ch'ang'ho (1876-1938). He not only worked diligently to free Korea from the occupation of Japan, but he taught a philosophy of "practice with diligence". He lived this philosophy and was known for his utmost sincerity in his relationships with others. There are 24 movements.

Won-Hyo: Won- hyo was one of the most famous Buddhist monks during the Great Silla dynasty. He tried to unite the various sections of Buddhism and bring it to the common people. This form has 28 movements and the diagram pattern is an "I".

Yul-Gok: Yulgok is the penname of Yi I, a famous philosopher of the 16th century (1563- 1584). Yi I believed in a "national consensus" where the will of the people would be found, not through supression of dissent, but through obtaining a national public opinion. His philosophy was one of democracy and freedom for everyone. There are 38 movements which represent 38 degrees latitude of his birthplace. The pattern symbolizes a "scholar".

Joong-Gun: An, Chung-gun was a patriot who assassinated Japanese Resident- General Hirobumi Ito. Ito was the first Japanese man to rule Korea after Japan took over in the early 1900's. The Resident- General ran the Council for Improvement of Korean Administration,which was simply to instill Japan's policies and culture on Korea. Mr. An was 32 when he was executed in Lui-Shung prison in 1910. Therefore, there are 32 movements, and the diagram pattern is an "I".

Toi-Gye: T'oegye is the penname of the famous neo-confucist philosopher and scholar, Yi,Hwang. Mr. Yi wrote a book called the Essence of Neo-Confucianism. Mr. Yi said that "a sincere man knew the realism of heaven". Realism and sincerity were the two main principles of which he lived by and wrote. There are 37 movements which represent the 37 degrees latitude of his birthplace. The pattern symbolizes "scholar".

Hwa-Rang: The Hwarang-do was the name of the group of men and boys who were the predecessors of modern day Tae Kwon Do. The 29th infantry is symbolized by the 29 movements. The diagram pattern is an "I".

Choong-Moo: Choong- Mo was the given name of the famous Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Mr. Yi invented the ironclad ships of turtle ship which were the predecessors of modern day submarines. They were simiar to the Monitor and Merimac of Civil War fame. Admiral Yi Sun-Sin was instrumental in defeating the Japanese during the Hideyoshi invasion. He was the true embodiment of indomitable spirit. Admiral Yi Sun-sin died at the end of a mahor naval battle by a stray bullet. There are 30 movements. It is an "I" diaramatic pattern.

Kwang-Gae: Gwang-gae T'o-wang was the 19th century king of the Koguryo Dynasty. He recaptured many of the lost territories including much of Manchuria. There are 39 movements and the diagram patern denotes the expansion and the recovery of lost territories.

Po-Eun: Po-eun is the penname of Chong, Mong-Chu. He was a famous poet and an early physicist at the end of the Koryo Dynasty. His most famous quote that is known to most Koreans even today was "I would not serve a second master though I may be crucified a hundred times. There are 36 movements.

Ge-Baek: Ge-baek was a great general during the Baek Je Dynasty (660 A.D) There are 44 movements. The diagram pattern denotes Ge-baek's rigorous, austere military discipline.

Eui-ahm: Eui-ahm is the pseudonym of Son, Byung-Hi, leader of Korean independence movement on March 1,1919. The 45 movements relate to his age when he changed the name of Dong-Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chon-do-kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram (I) represents his indomitable spirit displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.

Choong-Jahng: Choong -jahng is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk-ryang who lived during the Yi-dynasty in the fifteenth century. This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.

Go-Dahng: Go-dang is the pseudonym of the patriot Cho, Man-Sik who dedicated his life to the independence movement and ecucation of his people. The 39 movements signify his time of imprisonment and his birthplace on the 39th parallel.

Sahm-IL: Sam-il denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea, which began throughout the country on March 1, 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.

MEANINGS OF THE WORLD TAE KWON DO FEDERATION FORMS:

Koryo: This is the first of the black belt forms practiced by 1st dan and above. It has 30 movements and is the name of the ancient Korean dynasty (A. D. 918-1392) in which the English word Korea was derived from. This form is significant as it symbolizes the great fortitude displayed by the people who were persistently defeating the aggression of Mongolians who were sweeping Asia at the time. Koryo, therefore, represents the cultivation of a strong conviction, and unyielding spirit.

Keumgang: This form has 27 movements. It has the meaning of being too strong to be broken. In addition, the name has two connotations applicable to tae kwon do: one poetic, and the other spiritual. The Korean people have named the most beautiful mountain in their land keumgang-san; and the hardest substance-the diamond, they have called keumgang-seok. These dual qualities of hardness and beauty are therefore associated with the name. The movements of the form Keumgang are as beautiful as the Keumgang-san (a Korean mountain) and as strong as Keumgang-seok (diamond).

Taebaek: This is the third of the black belt forms and it has 26 movements. Mythology says that the nation of Korea was founded in Taebaek more than 4300 years ago. This region is now Mount Baekdoo, but the word Taebeak, still identifies the source of Korea, and the majesty of Mount Baekdoo, and so it is associated with light, this being the source of life, and sanctity because the moutain is close to perfection. This form is named Taebaek because it is meant to portray these abstract qualities.

Pyongwon: This form has 25 movements. It is performed in a straight line and symbolizes the plain. A great open plain gives us a feeling of majesty different from that experienced when viewing a mountain. Th open plain is vast and majestic and gives us food.

Ship-Jin: There are ten beliefs from nature worship in primitive religion. They're sun, mountain, water, rock, pine tree, moon, eternal plant, turtle, crane, and deer. This derived from ship-jin sa-sang, Ship jin means the numbers getting big indefinitly from ten to hundred, hundred to thousand, thousand to ten thousand. Like the numbers, this form demands a lot of changes in the movements. The dagram + means eternal life and the palm upper blocks are applied mainly. The important thing in this form is the smooth and sharp movements safety. When moving smoothly, relax your muscles and nerves but maintain the sharpness and make sure the decimal system and ten beliefs come together.

Ji-Tae: All live creatures are born, grow and die on earth. Even the wind, which changes season come and go on earth. Ji-tae means the biggest home from the sky. It's the resting place for all things in the universe with ability to protect. This form has the movements applying the land. The diagram T means the sky. There're many upward blocks which signifies coming up from the ground. The important thing in this form is the smooth power from the muscular power. This form's protection philosophy is applied to the body.